Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following press release from The Free Media Movement of Sri Lanka.
Asian Human Rights Commission
Hong Kong
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A Press Release from The Free Media Movement of Sri Lanka forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
SRI LANKA: Media organizations oppose 18th Amendment to the Constitution as an Emergency Bill
Alliance of Media Organizations
fmmsrilanka@gmail.com
September 2, 2010
Media Organizations’ Oppose 18th Amendment to the Constitution as an Emergency Bill
The Alliance of Media expressed its deep concern over the changes that are to be made to the Constitution as the 18th Amendments to the Constitution, violating the freedom of express on the part of the people and disregarding all the democratic norms.
The accepted norm of bringing up amendments to the Constitution is to make such amendments after being discussed among the masses and arrived at consensus on them. But it is a dangerous trend to make such amendments in the form of an Emergency Bill violating that cardinal principle.
When the country requires a new Constitution to address the challenges faces the nation, the amendments which further concentrate power seriously around one person and dismantling checks and balances on that rule taking an individual nature, would further establish this dangerous trend.
The Alliance of Media urges the masse to seriously consider the proposals for amendments and to assess realistically the harm that they might cause to democracy, good governance and independence of government’s service. It also emphasis to rally against these undemocratic proposals made without peoples’ consent.
This joint statement is issued by Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA), Free Media Movement (FMM), South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum (SLMMF), Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA), Journalists against Suppression (JAS) and Federation of Media Employees Trade Union (FMETU).
Inquiries:
Lasantha Ruhunage -077-3124856
Seeta Ranjani- 0777-312460
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About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.
